New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-28
TEMPERANCE PROGRESS.

The liquor question is gradually attracting
larger share of public attention. In some
of the States public sentiment has favored FRO
hibition and that mode of settlement Is on
trial with enough of popular support to permit
it's workings to be fairly tested. In such States
all reasonable friends of temperance, whether
they primarily approved Prohibition or not,
insist that the measure shall have fair trial
and faithful enforcement. In other States there
has not been found the public sentiment neccs-
sary to secure for Prohibition faithful enforce
ment, and where fair trial Of its merits can
not be had, sincere friends Of temperance have
with much unanimity favored the hlgh-liccnSc
plan. Third party Prohbitionists, who arc not
honest in their professcd zeal for temperance,
but are assistant Democrats, continue to op-
pose license because they want to defeat any
settlement With them arc found some SIN
cere persons who imagine it sin to cut of
half an evil when it is not possible TO cut OIL
the whole Of it. But very large proportion
of the true friends of temperance in such States
heartily support the high-liccnsc plan, and In
sist that it shall have fair trial and faithful
enforcement.
In Ohio, after four persons seated by perjury
had been excluded, the Republicans recovered
the majority in both houses to which they were
entitled by the votes actually cast, and the
Dow law. with such notifications as were
found necessary TO make it effective, Is now on
trial The Republicans were united In its
favor, and the Democrats with the same sub
stantial unanimity opposed it, Thus far the
evidence is that the law will serve two good
purposes it will greatly diminish the number
of iquor-saloons and SO cut of considerable
part of the traffic and of its consequent evils {;
and OF the same time it will secure large
revenue from the part Of the traillc that re-
mains, compelling it TO bear part of the expenses
of Government which intcmpcrance produces.
Public opinion in Ohio appears to sustain the
measure so effectively that it will 10 fairly
tried, and in that case the temperance question
will there be practically settled until good rca-
son shall appear to believe that Prohibition can
be carried and practically sustained. Whether
that time will come must depend in Ohio, as
in every other State, upon the movement OF
public opinion, and experience in States where
Prohibition Is now on trial will have much to
do with the formation Of an intelligent iudg-
mcnt respecting its usefulness elsewhere.
Tho passage Of High-Lcense bill by the
New York Assembly. and the defeat Of the
liquor interest In opposing similar bill in the
Pennsylvania Legislature, justify hope that in
these great States this settlement may DO a.
tanned without further delay. 1t is q striking
fact, which sensible temperance men do not
overlook, that in all these States the Repub-
licans are substantially united in supporting
and the Democrats in opposing this measure.
The pretexts for opposition differ, but on one
pretcxt or another Democratic members in all
the great States fight against every effort TO
restrain the liquor traffic or to make it bear
part Of the expense it causes. What can be
moro humiliating to a great political party
than the confession that it depends so com
p.ctcly upon the support of tho saloons that
its representatives do not dare TO vote for a